As the stock industry over-saturates itself with the same types of images and concepts, it will be key to come up with new ideas in order to stand out and maximize portfolio potential. Using your imagination to produce original ideas is therefore an important part in your stock career.

Sure, it's easy to say "use your imagination and be original." But it's the difference between being a trendsetter or someone who's behind the curve and always playing catch-up.

First of all, I think the problem many people have is understanding what STOCK imagery is all about. You see STOCK images every day so you should have a grasp of what Buyers are looking for. Stock images are used in junk mail, online ads, and magazines and newspapers. If you are constantly exposed to stock images...

One of my relatively well selling photos is a cob corn [imgl] 16022750[/imgl]. There are 5,288 cob corn images in the database, so it's really neither unique nor any kind of a trendsetting image. I even didn't expect ANY sales BUT it sells better than most of my other 400 photos!

Might be this is the exception of the rule or the truth is somewhere between: It's excellent to have trendsetting photos with a lot of originality and imagination but it's also not wrong to have "standard" bread and butter photos, too.

Thanks for sharing, Wisconsinart. But I sort of have mixed feelings about you posting the image that copied you. Obviously I understand that you would not like that, but you mentioned you were guilty of doing it yourself. Did those contributors that you copied or imitated post your image side by side with theirs?

I would say I've copied concepts more than creating an actual duplicate. After all, shooting someone using a laptop isn't exactly new. The point is unique images generally sell better and you'll do better if you don't follow the herd. Everyone says the stock industry is over saturated but I don't believe that because there are way too many subjects/concepts not yet covered. I have pages and pages of new ideas written down but no time to shoot 'em.

Thanks for sharing, Wisconsinart. But I sort of have mixed feelings about you posting the image that copied you. Obviously I understand that you would not like that, but you mentioned you were guilty of doing it yourself. Did those contributors that you copied or imitated post your image side by side with theirs?

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About me

My greatest passion is landscape and fine art photography. However, stock does provide a challenge in itself. I enjoy coming up with new ideas and concepts and learning new techniques. In the end, each compliments the other. The things you learn from one can apply for another and you grow with the craft. I have over 30 years experience with different kinds of art and freelance endeavors and have yet to become tired or bored with finding new ways to exercise the creative side of me. Thank you for visiting my profile and I hope your time here will be a reward in itself. I am located in Wisconsin, USA.
My collections:Farm and Country Living
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If there is anything Wisconsin-related that you have a special need for, just ask! I would be glad to accommodate.

My greatest passion is landscape and fine art photography. However, stock does provide a challenge in itself. I enjoy coming up with new ideas and concepts and learning new techniques. In the end, each compliments the other. The things you learn from one can apply for another and you grow with the craft. I have over 30 years experience with different kinds of art and freelance endeavors and have yet to become tired or bored with finding new ways to exercise the creative side of me. Thank you for visiting my profile and I hope your time here will be a reward in itself. I am located in Wisconsin... [Read more]

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